Holidaying Alone

Would you travel alone.. I want to go away for a island holiday in March and none of my friends are in a financial situation where they can come... is it super dumb travelling alone.. I mean I just want to go to the beach read a book, listen to music, swim, sleep, eat and go to the spa for massages and stuff. I mean nothing that really requires company .. just for a week.. I don’t knowwwwww…

Dooo eeeet!

I'd do a holiday like that alone for sure...travelling through South America, not so much

I'd probably stay away from Pitcairn

I've done it, only time it sucks if if you want to enjoy a decent meal - eating alone in a restaurant can be a bit of a downer

would you be taking your daughter?

No I wont be taking her along, it's just time for me to recharge from work stress etc and come back a better more relaxed mum which benefits both of us in the end.

I might stay in the same resort I did last time as I know the place and know what meals I like.. etc..

I want to go right now... on a sun lounger reading a book ..

omg.

I'm thinking about 10 days in April to somewhere sunny. Indonesia somewhere maybe. If I can't find people to go with I think I'm just gonna go alone. Break out the iPod and the Kindle and just soak up endless* radiation

*Yes Pechora, I realise 10 days is not endless.

^ lol

i've done traveling alone. When i initially went to New York to start work i was alone. I've done Hawaii alone when i went traveling surfing, and i've also done Balai alone.

My most recent move to Philippines i went alone. You meet people a lot faster if you're alone...

Especially if you's a cute girl

And staying in hostels helps, too

Philipines, eh? How was that? What areas did you go to? Just reading a book, Smile When You're Lying - Confessions Of A Rogue Travel Writer...he summed up the Philipines as one of his fav places, but man, it sure sounds like it's got some roughness about it

Dude, she wants to enjoy her holiday and get some relaxation in. Probably a bit of luxury. Hostels can get effed

I prefer not staying in a hostel if I'm alone tbh, but I hate people so makes sense I guess.

For sure, just adding to the meeting people bit, it's the best way if that's what you want to do

I'm probably just gonna go to Raro or one of the islands.. so dont think there are loads of Hostels there... not that I would even think of staying in one.. ewwwwwwwwwwwww

I have to find out what happens with those Holiday package deals .. what happens if you travel alone cos normally they’re for twin share x2 people aren’t they? Lame.

Travel deals are usually a per person fee, but in a twin share room. Which just means a room that can accommodate two people.

Which normally means that the fee quoted as being twin share will be different if quoted for a single person.

Yeah, sometimes they're a bit of a scam in that the accom never costs that much if you've got two people splitting the room costs...looked at a few of them and always found you're better off booking flights/accom sperately...the deal might save you a little bit, but not much, or get you a free airport transfer, but means you don't have a choice of which hotel you stay at or now long you stay.

Shop around, check Agoda or Hotel World or Webjet for specials

PS - south east asia = MILES cheaper accom and general day to day eating/drinking/living expenses than Raro/Pacific Islands.

Thailand or Bali FTW!

yeh I've travelled alone a lot. twice to Europe for a couple of months each time. FREEDOM TO DO WHAT YOU WANT WHENEVER!
I didnt even mind the resaurant alone bizzo to be honest. Yes accom can be a bit dearer but I mixed it up a bit - one week in a hotel and then one in a backpackers dorm etc

I"m thinking about a holiday alone.. well ... not really alone, small man child will be in tow. I'm thinkin Fiji!

quite a few travellers in bali travel alone. I was there in August and met a few people who were travelling by themselves. This one hostel there was really good for meeting people. On my first night there there was a big group which went out in town. I went there with my brother tho - and mainly for waves.

Bali is super cheap too.

I travel by myself all the time.. I actually really dislike travelling with other people. I love my days being random and doing whatever I feel like doing. I don't want to get dragged along to some boring museum or art gallery, and I don't want to feel guilty about bringing someone along to see something I'm interested in but they're not. I don't want to have to compromise. I often start walking down a street and suddenly change my mind and go in a different direction because I've seen something interesting down a side street. I don't want to have to explain my actions and decisions to anyone when they invariably ask "Why are you going there? I thought we were going to go to x place".

I travelled alone to lots of European cities during the weekends while I lived in London, around Europe for 5 weeks with Busabout and the local trains, around Ireland on the buses and hitchhiking, I moved to Canada by myself for a couple of years and did lots of solo ski trips to different ski hills in western Canada, then I did a 3 month road trip to the east coast and back (27,000kms which I drove myself.. ipod was my best friend, haha) and camped by myself and stayed at hostels when it rained. Oh, and I moved to Wanaka in April and did heaps of hikes on my own and skied at all the ski hills in NZ this winter by myself. I've never been to a tropical place like you're thinking of, but I can't imagine it'd be that much different (happy about being alone). I love my own company

Do it, you'll have a great time! You might feel a bit self conscious at first, but that passes pretty quickly. You sound like you want some hotel luxury, but a lot of people don't know that most hostels also have single rooms so you can still have your own room (usually cheaper than a room in a hotel) but you also get the benefits of meeting other people and being able to use the kitchen and dining room to make your own food. Most tours will charge you a "single supplement". Basically if you don't want to share a room with a stranger (they'll pair you up with another female) you pay extra to have your own room.

I've travelled alone, and with my partner... I prefer travelling with somebody. I tend to do way more when I'm with somebody, cause usually I travel for work and add some free time to the trip, so unless I'm with somebody who is not working I'll just spend my spare working instead of being out seeing shit.

my gf is pretty cool, and we have similar interests, so travelling with her is pretty sweet.

Personally, I find beach holidays boring and lonely on my own. Did it once, saw lots of couples and families out and didn't enjoy being on my own much. If travelling solo I prefer to go to places where there's lots to do and see.

Philippines is awesome! not as tourist based as Thailand though. But if you know what to do and where to go you can have a awesome time.

I lived in Cebu for over a year, and then spend three months in Manila at the end. Went all over the show, i was working for a US company who mainly hired foreign staff in their 20's so every weekend people were hiring boats and going island hopping. So i got to see more islands than i can remember the names of. Also where we were in Cebu, on Mactan island, is where all the top resorts are.. like Shangri La, Plantation Bay, Imperial Palace.. which were all huge and beautiful, with their own gyms, pools, golf courses, tennis courts, lots of bars & restaurants and own private beach. So i'd go down there a couple of times a week and every time it would feel like i was on holiday.

Plus Filipino girls love western guys.. especially NZ guys! lots of hot girls around.

Manila was ok too, Cebu is more coastal towns while Manila is more of a metro city. Both cities have really nice world class restaurants. They love their shopping malls there too, Manila has one of the nicest malls i've been to. Both cities can be quite rough if you don't know what you're doing.

After the whole lalaIm so fancy staying at a resort lala.. I think I go for a nice guesthouse (god pelase tell me this is not what a hostel is?) it's nice and has nice rooms.. and no kids under 10 .. and by a nice beach...
and has really great reviews too..

Careful with guesthouses..I fell into that trap a few times in Thailand

I mean...they often look nice on the net and even IRL they look pretty nice, but many of them are NOT mossie proof and unless you want to sleep under a net and constantly be spraying the place/dodging the little fkers its a complete nightmare

The other major mis6ake I made was accepting a room without noticing how close it was to the resort bar. The resort was tiny but it only took 4 drunk howling frencies to ruin that nights kip. rage

wtf

For some reason I got guesthouse and "bungalow" mixed up

nm

Is there a difference between a bungalow and a guest house?

I'm just looking at the options.. the resort I wanted to stay at is $1250 a night UMMMMM lol

Did the trans-Siberian rail journey through Russia, Mongolia, China and back in to Russia. All alone and loved every second of it - wouldn't want to travel any other way. It has its negatives but the positives outweigh the negatives BY FAR.

Looked at fellow travellers who were in a group or with friends and just shook my head as they were all tied with each others plans and choices and moods with a lot of sacrifices being made. Worst situation to be in.

Holidaying alone is the way to go for sure.

jeez, you people are obviously pretty crap at picking your travelling partners.

I suspect they themselves may actually be the difficult travel partner

Oh YAY I’ve found a great place to stay and it has a good overall review on trip advisor and looks cosey and nice and social too .. I might get the small room with the private courtyard sounds so nice and for 7 nights it will cost about the same as two nights in a resort! WINNING might take as my luggage a chilly bin of yummy food .. hrmmmmm …

http://www.aremango.co.ck/accommodation.html

eeeeeek so excited.. about being a loner ..heh.

Just make sure you take the batteries out of your vibe before you pack it.

Funny story: I was on a plane to Auckland one time. Carry on baggage only. After a while I could here this buzzing sound coming from the overhead lockers, and I wasn't the only one. Soon enough my whole section of the plane was looking quite concerned about it. Eventually the cabin crew come along and start opening the lockers to find out where this buzzing was coming from. I was thinking to myself "Man some poor woman's going to be REAL embarrassed when they discover her vibrator." Next thing you know my bag comes down with a "Who's bag is this" from the crew. I sheepishly get up, open my bag and turn off my electric toothbrush.

But that's nothing compared to the story about the 10 inch black rubber double-ended dildo we snuck in my mate's suitcase before his flight to UAE. Man, he was lucky to get out of that one.

HAHA .. is that a real story?

They both are.

Funny

*hear



What happened?

Haha did you make a big deal of the fact it was a toothbrush, so that noone got the wrong idea? haha

PD - totally!

Insanity - do you remember that? When Kris and Todd went to Europe for a few months? Not entirely sure what happened, but I know they were delayed at customs there for a good few hours. And thinking about it this thing was probably 20 inches. It was a monster. Kris used to take it out with us to clubs and rub up against girls with it.

lol...got he's a ferral cunt...would have loved to see Todds face when they pulled that out of his bag

That looks awesome, and only $45 a night too!

Pffft!

I know!! I just brought my flights.. total bargin $467 return..l and then battled for an hour or so to actually book accomodation at this place!! looks like every man and his dog is going to raro !!!! FARRRRRKKKK so lucky I got accomodation all that is left really is the expensive places or the shared dorms .ick. If anyone is planning a island holiday anytime soon you need to get your shit together everything is selling out .. it's insane.

Oh and I'm going away for 9 nights w00p!!!! 9 nights and it's cost about $500

wow that's a great deal QT.

Have fun, read books, get a tan, get laid

Yeah I'm a little worried because I booked my accomodation using this place www.hostels.com ... not directly with the place but as I am pedantic have emailed the place with my confirmation to make sure it's all ok. . it's gonna be packed out with fucking kiwis though.... yeah pretty sure the above quota will be successful .. better be totes classy

When are you going QT?

16th - 24th I think.. I get there a day before ...

I've been emailing the chick at that place I'm staying at as I'm trying to get a nicer room witth my own courtyard.... I think she is the triathlete chick who was harrased by that zac guy when he went on that drunk rampage....

anyway ..blahblah lol.

I hope no one is going to stalk and try and kill me or something

lol why would anyone try and kill you?

I've watched too many horror movies recently I think....

due to her incessant holiday rampages


plus triathletes are known killers

codpiece does triathlons yes?

I know Rarotonga. Most people there are too busy sleeping to be bothered with killing :>

haha yeah I know I'm just being a dick.

I've stayed at that place. And if that was the chick that was harassed I've met her. I'm now famous two times over

have you?? COOL!

Is it as cool as I've read online? I've booked in got a single room and I'm trying to get into a room with a private courtyard...

What room did you stay in?

Is it far from the supermarket?

I was in a single room that was $40 a night. It was a decent size. I think the floor was lino. It was on the western side of the building so views out that side were of some ratty old hedge through a wire mozzie screen that was very effective but aesthetically not so appealing. Not the sort of room you'd want to relax in during the day. They have quite a nice deck off the kitchen/dining room on the other side of the building which has a big table under shelter with seating and you can get groups of people who gather there to talk or read. The courtyard rooms are on that side of the building I think, and the place does have a nice garden on that side which is well looked after. I dont know what the couryards are like, other than I seem to recall they might be a small area behind a wood or brush screen with maybe a bit of garden. The supermarket is on the totally opposite side of the island so you will either need to make a bus trip or hire a scooter to get food. They have an oven/stove and you will get a bit of fridge space. I think there are quite a few eating places closeish. It's about a minutes walk from the beach which has a few small motu, is swimmable at high tide, but too shallow at low I think. They hire out cycles very cheaply which are useable but not in good shape. They will pick you up from the airport, but you will have to arrange your own transport back.

Cool ok that's kinda what I thought, I might just get my food from the local cafe's or whatever rather than lugging it to the supermarket..

Thanks for that.. it looks clean and tidy which is the main thing... hopefully I get a room with a courtyard then I'll have my own area to sunbathe with no top and stuff like that. haha tmi

Yep all up its pretty clean and tidy and good value, but not hugely flash

Cool that’s all I want … Clean, tidy and safe.. with other people around so I’m not too much of a loger

You should be careful homeboy! Just because ya is accustomed to da heaven dat is New Zealand and a pompered well off life style doesn't mean ya always gonna be safe!

You never know when da conditions dat will be right for some negative karmic seed dat will sprout that will cause you danger, the conditions will most likely increase when ya travelling over seas alone. In unfamiliar countries with naive attitude about people, not to mention eating nasty stuff. Not ta mention homeboys will more likely to target single women etc.

No homeboy will think death and "misfortune" will happen to them until it happens! Ya better off getting protection from Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva before going anywhere!

Alone could better be spent on investigatin the mind, to self-reflect on ya past mistakes so you won't harm more people in the future!

Over indulgence at spas n places is a good way ta waste precious karmic merit you've earned in the past. Just think about it, spend all dat $ on ya skin now, but ya skin is gonna turn old and ugly in no time, why waste dat money?

Travelled alone for 12 months in 2008 .... had the most awesome time and caught up with various old friends in Melbourne, Sydney, Saigon, Stockholm, Edinburgh, Kuala Lumpar ... and hooked up with a Kiwi chick in Guatemala who I dated for about a year.

I was kinda bit worried about travelling alone before I left NZ as I like company pretty much all the time ... but as it turned out it was a real good opportunity for me to get more comfortable by myself, and as it turns out I was probably alone for maybe 2-3 weeks total over the year.

haha hopefully I hook up with a Gutamatala chick too.





not.

keep forgetting about my holiday.... it needs to hurry up.

I'm off to Thailand in April for 10 days. Not enough time but I decided it was the only time I was likely to get in the near future so booked it.

Sooooo..hrmmmmm....would never holiday alone again well not at a guesthouse....The women staying there barely spoke to me though their partners were nice to me...A Irish guy there was soo weird he woud sit by me or stand around and say nothing..so annoying as he was really hot.. ....It just felt odd I visited family... but yeah.......Was beautiful to have a morning coffee on Muri beach but yeah....wouldnt go alone..never again ...maybe when I sneak off overseas to get plastic surgery thatd be it ...

shoulda jumped his bones QT - he was possibly shy and taken aback by your holidaying alone persona

Holidaying alone is kinda what you make of it I guess .... you gotta be willing to engage with randms to create the fun times you want

Ya going North of South? If you're heading NOrth spend a day in Ayutaya, if you're heading South spend a day or two in Kachanabure.

Holidaying alone to somewhere remote is highly recommended. I've found you often see a lot more than if you're with a crew - you can just chop/change your plans easier and go at your own pace. I've used plenty of my solo mission trips to find cool stuff which, on later trips, I can take friends along to.

Stink one, but to be honest, I think you picked the wrong destination for starters...and a guesthouse would suck, too...you either need to A) go high end and be at a resort where you're treated like royalty and you just want to hang by yourself at the pool reading books being Lady Muck or B) go low end, at a backpackers, and hard out hit up the randoms and party/drink like it's going out of fashion (though this requires the right desintation, like Thailand/Bali/Rio)

...Nah I think he was shy he didnt really talk to anyone ... he could have hung out with me if he wasnt so fucking awkward I was pretty much like WTF is your problem dude ....lol...god sake it was actually pissing me off I was gonna say something sluzzy to him before I left for a laugh but bit my tongue he might have been mormon or something hah...Anyway....I think I just picked the wrong place to stay it was too quiet and there was no one drinking lollll... funny now but at the time not so much...

no one was drinking?

the poor irish lad... no wonder he was awkward... he was sober...

should have got him on the turps... then he'd have bene a craic

Yeah nah....he probably was just not attracted to me...and didnt want to waste his time but it was just rude and pised me off...lol my holiday was good though apart from the weird vibed out accomodation ... Weeeeiiirrrdddd